Signal collection device



Aug' 23, 1955 F. D. COLLINS 2,716,170

SIGNAL COLLECTION DEVICE Filed Jan. lO, 1952 ATTORNEYS SIGNAL `COLLECTION DEVICE y el Fred D. Collins, Charlotte, N. C. kApplication Januaryl, 1952, Serial No. 265,802

3 Claims. (ci. 20o-.6153) v This invention relates to a signal collection device and more especially to a collection device adapted tofreceive newspapers, magazines, and the like and being so constructed as tov actuate an alarm or signal upon newspapers, magazines or the like being placed therein. j y y Heretofore various types of signal mail boxes have been used with mechanisms provided to trip a signalling device upon material being placed in the mail box and these devices have not been practical for large or bulky articles such as magazines, newspapers and vthev like and frequently required complicated electrical mechanisms.

It is a primary object'of this linvention to provide a j simplified collection device primarily adapted to receive -b'ulkymaterial such as newspapers, magazines and the .a spring pressed clamp arm pivotally mounted thereon.

Said spring pressed clamp arm is normally urged into'engagement with the backb'oard and is movable outwardly therefrom to permit material to be placed vbetween the same and the backboard so that the spring pressed clarnp may be released to hold the material in position. The spring pressed clamp is connected adjacent its pivotpoint withelectrical switch means in a circuit with a signalling device whereby, upon movement of the spring pressed clamp away from the backboard the signalling device will be actuated to indicate that material has'lbeen placed in said device.

' Some of the objects of the invention'having lbeen stated,

.other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings,-in

` which- Y.

Figure l'is a front elevation ofthe improved signal collection device with a portion" of 'the' front cover thereon broken away for purposes ofclarity; 1 1

. ,FigureZ is. a vertical sectional view through the signal collection device taken! along line.2-2 inFigure l;

able materiali" r'lfhe upper r`edge of `:the backboard 10 may l .be scalloped to form a design as at11, if desired.` The backboard 10 isv provided with bores 12 at the upper and lower portion thereof which are adapted `to bepenetrated ,by screws, bolts or the like, not shown, for attaching the backbo'aid to any suitable surface. The device is preferably associated with the outer door of a building or States Patentffc? j ...sa

5 'and this switch housing 15 has a front wall16, side walls 17 and 18, a top wall`19 and a bottom wall 20.Vv The walls 17 to'20, inclusive, extend from the backboard'l in rightangular relation thereto. The upper front face of the backboard is provided with a plate `22 secured 10 vthereto by any suitable means or which may be formed integral therewith if so desired.

` The plate 22 is provided with a pair of oppositely directed inverted L-shaped grooves 23 and 24. The left-hand groove 23 in Figure 1 has a portion thereof running yparallel to the left-hand side of the backboard 10 and another portion extending at right angles thereto and inwardly toward the center of the plate 22 but stopping short of the center thereof. The groove 24 extends in a line parallel to the right-hand edge of the backboard 10 in Figure l and has a-portion extending at right angles thereto at the upper portion of the backboard 22 and in alinement with the right angular extension of the groove 23. The proximate ends of the grooves 23 and 24 are spaced from each other a short distance at the medial 25 portion of the plate 22.4 lf desired, the proximate ends of the grooves 23 and 24 may be joined. l

yThese grooves 23 and 24 are adapted to receive a spring pressed clamp and switch member sometimes hereafter broadly referred to as a clamp 25.

0' The clamp 25, is substantially rectangular-and has a .left-hand leg portion and an upper transversely ex- .tending portion 31 -provided with a forwardly extending projection or handle 32 in the center portion thereof and extending forwardly and over the medial portion of the 35 :plate 22 between the proximate ends of the grooves 23 y and 24, The clamp 25 is also provided with a right-hand leg 32a and a bottom leg 33.` The lower end of the lefthandi` leg 30 is preferably bent around the free 0r lefthandend of the bottom leg 33 to join the same together 40 as at 34.l The portion 31 Vmay also beter1nedv a` web i Suitable bearing clamps 35 and^36are secured to the back-board 10within the housing 15 as by screws 37` and the lower leg 33 of the clamp 25 is rotatably mounted i3, in the bearing clamps 35 and 36. A torsion spring 40 surrounds a portion of the leg 33 and normally urges the clamp 25 into engagement with the backboard 10 so that the clamp 25 is normally positioned withinther grooves 23 and 24cm in theplate 22. l

.'u It will be observed that the clamp 25 may be moved out of engagement with therbackboard k10 by van 'operator .grasping the handle portion 32 and moving the clamp in ,the .bearings 35 and against` the tensionof the spring 4i). -This movement is limited by guides l2 and .Ti 43 secured to the backboard 10 as by screws V44 and extending over the respective left-hand and right-hand leg portions 30 and 32a of the clamp 2.5.. The upper wall `19 of the housing l5 is cut away as atv-4S and 46 to `permit the legs of the clamp 2S to extend therethrough.

im ISecured to the upper surface of the lower portion 34 0f the leg-.30, as by welding, is a plate 50 which has a clamping plate 51 secured thereto as by screws 52.v -An arm 53 has one end thereof adjustably mounted` between the plates and 51 and is secured in position by'the U5 screws 52.- Thefree end of the arm 53 has a snubber switch arm '60 pivotally mounted on a pin 61 extending ,through a 'bracket 62, the pin 61` having'a spring 63 therearound normally urging the switch arm '60 out- Wardly 'or away from the backboard 10. An insulated plate 64 is secured to the backboard 10 as by screws 65 and the insulated plate 64 has a limit bracket 66 secured thereto as by a screw 67. The limit bracket 66 limits the outward movement of the free end of the spring pressed switch arm 60. The free end ofthe spring pressed switch arm 60 has a contact 70 on the rear surface thereof adapted to engage a contact 71 on a conductive plate 72 secured to the non-conductive plate 64.

A wire 75 is connected to the pivoted end of the switch arm 60 and extends to a suitable plug 76 for connecting the same to a source of electrical energy not shown. A wire 77 leads from the plug 76 and has one side of the primary coil 78 of a transformer 79 connected thereto. A wire 80 leads from the other side of coil 7,8 to one Contact of a four way switch 81. The plate 72 has a wire 83 leading therefrom to another contact on the four-way switch 81. The wire 83 may be connected to the contact '71 as shown in Figure 3, if desired. A branch wire 84 leads from the wire 83 to another contact on the switch 81.

On the opposite side of the switch 81 a wire 85 leads to one side of a visual signal or lamp 86 and the wire 77 is connected to the other side of the lamp 86. A secondary coil 9i) of the transformer 79 has a wire 91 leading from one side thereof to one contact on an audible signalling device 92. A wire 93 connects the other side of the signalling device 92 to the other end of the secondary coil 96 of the transformer 79.

It will thus be observed that when the four-way switch is moved to connect the wires S4 and 80, upon the switch arm 6) being closed, current will flow to the primary coil 7 8 of the transformer 79 to energize the alarm device 92. Upon the four-way switch 81 being moved to connect the wires 83 and 8S, the transformer 79 will be cut out of the circuit and energy will flow through the wire 85, the lamp 86 and the wire 77 to complete the circuit to illuminate said lamp.

It will thus be observed that when the clamp 25 is moved outwardly away from the backboard to permit material such as magazines, newspapers, and the like to be clamped between the same and the backboard 10 or front piece 22. The arm 53 will be moved inwardly, urging the switch arm 60 inwardly to complete a circuit to either the alarm device 92 or the lamp 86 depending upon the position of the four-way switch 81 to thus give indication that material has been placed in the collection signal device.

By use of a switch of this type, it is possible to give an indication or signal which will remain active until the clamp is moved back into position within the grooves 23 and 24 to open the switch 60 to break the circuit. An operator may change the position of the switch 81 as desired so that a visual or audible signal may be given.

It will thus be observed that there is provided a collection signal device particularly adapted to receive bulky material such as newspapers, magazines, and the like and having a clamping member for holding said material and said clamping member being provided with switch means for actuating visual or audible signal means to indicate when material is placed in said device.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being dened in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a signal collection device having a backboard, a switch housing, and a switch disposed in a circuit with a signalling device; a spring pressed clamp arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said backboard, said switch housing enclosing the pivoted end of said spring pressed clamp arm, means normally urging said spring pressedclarrip arm in'to engagement with the'bac'kboard,

said spring pressed clamp arm being manually movable outwardly from said backboard to permit newspapers, magazines, and the like to be placed between the same and the backboard and clamped thereby, a switch actuating arm associated with said pivoted end of said spring pressed clamp arm and adapted to engage and close said switch upon said spring pressed clamp arm being moved outwardly from said backboard, whereby closure of said switch will actuate said signalling means to indicate that material is positioned between said backboard and said spring pressed clamp arm.

2. In a signal collection device having a backboard, a switch housing and a switch within said housing disposed in a circuit with a signalling device; a rectangular spring pressed clamp arm having a base leg pivotally mounted on said backboard within said switch housing, said spring pressed clamp arm having side legs extending outwardly from said switch housing and an upper web connecting said side legs, said switch housing having an opening therein through which the side legs of said clamp extend, a torsion spring positioned around the base of said clamp for normally urging the same into engagement with said backboard, said clamp being manually pivotal at its base away from said backboard to permit material such as newspapers and the like to be positioned between the same and said backboard and to be clampingly secured by saidv clamp, a switch actuating arm adjustably mounted on the base of said clamp, the free end of said switch actuating arm having a resilient snubber tixed thereon, said switch including a movable contact engageable by said snubber for closing said switch upon pivotal movement of said clamp outwardly from said backboard to close the circuit to said signalling device to give an indication that material is positioned in said signal collection device.

3. In a signal collection device having a backboard, a switch housing and a switch within said housing connected in a circuit with a signalling device; a plate secured on the upper surface of said backboard at one end thereof, a switch housing positioned on the upper surface of said backboard at the other end thereof, a rectangular spring pressed clamp arm having a base leg pivotally mounted on said backboard within said switch housing, said spring pressed clamp arm having side legs extending outwardly from said switch housing and a top web connecting said side legs, said plate having grooves adapted to receive said side legs and said top web of said clamp, said switch housing having an opening therein through which the legs of said clamp extend, a torsion spring positioned around the base of said clamp for normally urging the legs and top web of the same into the grooves in said plate, said clamp being manually movable out of said grooves to permit material such as newspapers and the like to be positioned between the clamp and said plate and to be clampinglysecured by said clamp, a switch actuating arm adjustably mounted on the base leg of said spring pressed clamp arm, a resilient snubber xed on the free end of said switch actuating arm, said switch including a movable switch arm having a Contact thereon and adapted to be moved by said snubber and a xed switch plate having a mating contact thereon, whereby upon pivotal movement of said clamp outwardly from said backboard said switch actuating arm will move said o movable switch arm to close said contacts to close the circuit to said signalling device to give an indication that material is positioned in said signal collection device.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,550 Helium May 3o, 1893 1,336,652 Otto Apr. 13, 1920 '2,088,806 Ottman Aug. ,3, 1937 2,477,379' Korth July 26', 1949 "SAI 

